Analyzing The Moral Panic Of Media Media Essay

Analyzing The Moral Panic Of Media Media EssayThompson(1998) describes 5 key elements in a righteous panic. It is any(prenominal)thing or someone who is defined as a threat to values and interests the threat is depicted in an easily recognisable form by the media, with white plague of aspects such as Exaggeration, distortion, prediction and symbolisation. This then causes a rapid build up of public concern. Newspaper coverage and news broadcasts are commonly cognize to exaggerate issues in hunting lodge which then encourage the public to react timorous to the concerns. Lastly, moral panics are interminably used to result in a response from the authorities or imprint-makers. Thus, this included changes made evident from law enforcement, the councils and general charity organisations. The final element is that panic recedes or results in companionable changes.There are many issues that are often subject to moral panics such as Youth Crime/Gun Crime, Binge Drinking, child abuse , charge up and violent behaviour, drug abuse, paedophilia, the law and asylum seekers and immigration policy. A moral panic can be defined in several ways, one description is a kind of short-hand for public hysteria, by definition irrational, and is almost always held to be indicative of someone elses behaviour rather than our own (Critcher, 2003). The media directs its judgments and perspectives at members of society that are classed as unacceptable or deviant.In his book Moral Panics and the Media, Chas Critcher explains that Moral panics involve a heightened level of concern over the behaviour of a certain group or category and the consequences that the behaviour presumably cause for the rest of society(Critcher,2003,pg 23). A moral panic must be manifested in concrete ways in other words there must be a public commentary in the form of media such as publisher coverage and news broadcasts. In relation to Thompsons description the media then proposes legislation and social mov ement activity. The media is acting as a voice for the public some may argue that it offers biased/distorted views of issues which therefore cause a moral panic. Conversely, it can also be argued that the media plays a crucial role in establishing a moral panic as a way of creating awareness to the public thus without media involvement this is not possible.A key subject that is continuously making heavy appearances in tabloid newspapers and news broadcasts daily is Gun/Knife abuse which is commonly affiliated with youth culture/youth gangs.To escort how Thompsons, Critchers and other theorists concept of moral panic works, analysis of media coverage is critical.The media has developed and distorted representations of British youth for a long time, and certain coverage in British cinema, documentaries, press coverage and broadcasting live with made it evident that the representation of youth is seen as a threat to many. just the coverage divergentiates from different forms of me dia. The coverage of moral panics in broadcasting differs to press television news broadcasts, are described as unbiased and therefore have a small affect on moral panics as the impact might have not been on such a large scale. However in major moral panics they tend to have the same large amount of coverage on daily.British Youth are constantly being associated with factors such as drug abuse, low achievers, under age drinking, ASBOs , violence leading to such headlines as Britain a nation of yobs. The term yob and thug is commonly used in numerous press cuttings specifically from tabloid newspapers such asThe Sun and the Daily mail. It can be argued that the depiction of a sterotypicaly thug is being used as the Folk Devil. Moreover the use of these metaphors are adding to the sensation of the moral panic Yobs must get gnarled sentences not a rigidly on the wrist, Another stab victim dies, yet yobs with blades could escape with fine, Thug stabs student to death and stain Brit ian.The headlines are poignant and direct,1 day. 5 dead, this encourages the readers to be aware but also an element of paranoia can be injected provoking public distress, cause a stir in society. There is use of emotive language such as His mother has run out of tears and use of alliterations in Kids killing kids, families in fear, its time to say, No More, these are examples of rhetoric which newspapers use to persuade its readers in supporting their views. An example the initial making of a moral panic is a headline used in the Daily Mail Random attack by thugs every 30 seconds. This can be described as heavily exaggerated which provokes public reaction and emotion.On the other hand, youth crime is rapidly increasing, in society. The amplification which takes place through with(predicate) the medias work serves to appeal to the public so that they concur with ready-made opinions about the course of action to be taken. Combined with the opinions of the experts who are wheeled ou t to fountain their diagnosis, they reach an agreement about how to cope with the situation in hand, and the problem either disappears or at least deteriorates.(Burns2000). In reference to Youth crime various anti-gun/knife crime campaigns have been made and according to an article in 2008 from the Sunday Mirror the home secretary Jacqui smith states that thugs carrying knives will smell four years in jail. It can also be argued that moral panics can result in social change.In Conclusion, Sometimes panics have existed in society for a considerable time but a particular event has triggered the significance although generally they pass as quickly as they came and are long forgotten. The medias involvement plays a crucial role in the establishment of moral panics, as it raises awareness of serious ongoing issues. However it can be argued that it promotes a bias nature which can ultimately prevent the public from the truth. Yobs must get tough sentences not a slap on the wrist.(The Su n2008). The medias powerful role can be criticised for using moral panics to enforce the ideas and rules about the government. Moral panics will occur to dominate society and the media provoking public concern and sometimes legislation but there will always be questions doubting whether it does reinforces public opinion and if it is a voice for the people or a propaganda tool for the rich and powerful.